Iraq CP strengthens resolve for sovereignty

The Iraqi Communist Party has welcomed the UN Security Council 
resolution adopted on June 8 as a step towards an independent, 
unified democratic pluralistic federal Iraq. An editorial in the 
weekly newspaper of the Party says that the resolution 
"consolidated the steps taken on the path to end the occupation 
and regain full sovereignty". We reproduce the editorial in full 
for the information of readers:

Following weeks of lengthy negotiations and the introduction of 
four amendments on the initial US-UK draft, the UN Security 
Council adopted a new resolution (UNSCR 1546) on June 8, a week 
after the Interim Iraqi Government had been formed.

This resolution consolidated the steps taken on the path to end 
the occupation and regain full sovereignty, and also gave a boost 
to the current political process in the country by endorsing the 
formation of the Interim Government that will assume full 
responsibility and power on June 30.

Significantly, the resolution welcomed the commitment by the 
Interim Iraqi Government to work for building a unified 
democratic pluralistic federal Iraq, ensuring full respect for 
political freedoms and human rights.

The resolution also emphasised the right of the Iraqi people to 
freely decide their political future, exercise full power and 
control their financial and natural resources.

Shortcoming

In an obvious shortcoming, the resolution failed to specifically 
refer to the Transitional Administrative Law of the Iraqi State. 
However, it endorsed the timetable proposed for the peaceful 
political transfer of power and emphasised the holding of free 
direct democratic general elections on December 31, 2004, or not 
later than January 31, 2005, for an transitional national 
assembly that will draft a permanent constitution paving the way 
for the formation of an elected constitutional government by 
December 31, 2005.

The resolution dealt with the security issue and the status of 
the multinational forces. While welcoming the efforts to build 
the Iraqi armed forces and the role they would play, enabling 
them ultimately to assume full responsibility, subject completely 
to the relevant Iraqi ministers, it renewed the mandate given to 
the multinational forces in accordance with UNSCR 1511.

This mandate is to be reviewed when the Iraqi Government so 
requests, or 12 months after the adoption of the resolution. But 
it will be terminated, in any case, by the end of the political 
process, or before that at the request of the Iraqi Government.

The relationship between the Iraqi Government and the 
multinational forces was determined according to the letters of 
the Iraqi Prime Minister and the US Secretary of State which were 
issued as appendix to the resolution.

Oil

Furthermore, the resolution granted the Iraqis full control over 
the arrangements pertaining to the deposit of revenues of 
exporting oil, products of oil and natural gas, whereby the 
"International Advisory and Monitoring Board" is to continue to 
monitor the work of the Iraqi Development Fund after including a 
representative of the Iraqi Government as a member with voting 
power. The Iraqi Government will also play the main role in the 
co-ordination of international aid to Iraq.

Unlike the two previous resolutions 1483 and 1511, the present 
resolution gave the UN a bigger and fundamental role in the 
current political process. This role will continue until the 
election process is completed.

The Iraqi side was present in the deliberations at the Security 
Council during the preparation of the resolution, through the 
delegation of Iraqi foreign ministry. However, had there been a 
better chance for consultation and co-ordination, and sufficient 
time, there would have certainly been an extensive Iraqi 
consideration of the draft resolution based on the will of the 
Iraqi people and their patriotic forces to fully end the 
occupation, in all its manifestations, and regaining sovereignty 
as envisaged by the Transitional Administrative Law and the 
statement issued by the Iraqi Governing Council on May 25 about 
the concept of sovereignty.

Government responsibilities

A careful scrutiny of the resolution would show that the Iraqi 
Government has become responsible for several things, with the 
implementation depending on its attitude and the policies it 
draws up.

This includes matters such as the role of the multinational 
forces and the time limit of their presence, and the attitude 
towards the International Board supervising the Iraqi Development 
Fund, as well as the UN role as subsequently requested by the 
Iraqi Government.

On the other hand, several of the afore-mentioned points will 
depend on the success of the current political process and its 
culmination inachieving a permanent constitution and forming an 
elected government on its basis. Thus, a lot depends on the work 
of the government, its performance, and the extent to which the 
policies it draws up coincide with the aspirations and will of 
our people. This also requires exercising oversight by the masses 
and their organisations, and exerting efforts to ensure that.

The content of the resolution offers much promise for the future 
of Iraq, as well as support for the political process and the 
formation of the Iraqi Government.

However, it is still below our aspiration for more transparency 
and clarity in some of its clauses, especially regarding the role 
of multinational forces in relation to the issue of security in 
the broader comprehensive sense, as well as the need from now for 
a concrete government role in the administration of the Iraqi 
Development Fund and to determine the directions of expenditure 
in accordance with our people's priorities and needs.

We have to say that what matters here is not only a generally 
good resolution, but also the effort to implement it and the 
commitment of all sides to abide by its content. This will depend 
to a great degree on the performance of the Iraqi Government and 
its endeavour to be a worthy representative of the Iraqis, 
reflecting their present aspirations and wishes, and preparing 
the conditions for achieving the timetable of the political 
process.

We have to stress the role of the masses, their organisations and 
the patriotic parties in helping to provide these conditions and 
ensuring the success of the political process. To realize this 
will ensure the future Iraq we want, the free independent and 
peaceful Iraq, the unified democratic federal Iraq.